Councillor Simon Radford

Budget Council, Council - Tuesday 4th March, 2025 7.00 pm

The Council agreed to adopt the new Local Plan, approved the 2025/26 budget and the associated 4.98% rise in Council Tax, and appointed Cath Shaw as the new Chief Executive.

Cabinet - Monday 3rd March, 2025 7.00 pm

The Cabinet noted the contents of the Our Plan for Barnet – Delivery and Outcomes Framework Quarter 3 (2024-25) report. It was decided that a separate food waste collection service using dedicated vehicles will be implemented. The Cabinet agreed to the proposed responses of two Task and Finish Group reports, one on youth homelessness and the other on elective home education. The Fit and Active Barnet Strategy and action plan was adopted for implementation from 1st April 2025 and the findings of the Additional Licensing Scheme 2022-2027 Year Two Review were noted. The Cabinet noted the contents of the Brent Cross Update report.

Cabinet - Tuesday 18th February, 2025 7.00 pm

The meeting began with a discussion of Barnet Council's financial position, which is facing a projected budget gap of up to £79 million. Councillors noted a consistent shortfall in savings delivery, with the council consistently achieving only around 85% of its savings targets. They also expressed concerns about the increasing number of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which is outstripping the overall pupil population growth and putting pressure on the council's budget. The council's low social housing stock was also highlighted as a contributing factor to the high costs of temporary accommodation. The impact of an ageing population on adult social care costs was also discussed.

Cabinet - Wednesday 5th February, 2025 7.00 pm

At this meeting the Cabinet agreed to refer the Barnet Local Plan 2021-2036 to Full Council for formal adoption on 04 March 2025, to approve a new Planning Obligations SPD, and to approve the capital expenditure budget for the Improving Barnet's Roads 2025/26 Programme. The cabinet also approved the Annual Procurement Forward Plan for 2025-26. They also noted three motions referred to them from the Full Council meeting of 28 January 2025.

Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) - Wednesday 29th January, 2025 7.00 pm, NEW

The committee noted the Quarterly Risks Report - Q3 202425 and the Grant Certification Report - GARMS Jan 25. The committee also noted the 202324 Interim Audit Findings Report and were assured by the new auditors that a disclaimed opinion would be issued for the 2023/24 accounts once the previous years were signed off by the previous auditors, and the issue relating to the legality of pre-payment of pension contributions was resolved. The committee then noted the Internal Audit Exception Recommendations Report and Q3 Progress Report 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024 and the work programme, which was rearranged to accommodate the additional meeting in December 2024.